KAIST alumni startup ecosystem meeting, KOC (KAIST One Club), announced on the 6th that it has established the KOC Consulting Cooperative to systematically support the growth of promising technology-based startups as unicorns (unlisted startups with a corporate value exceeding 1 trillion won).
The KOC Consulting Cooperative, in which KOC members participate as cooperatives, operates an AI (artificial intelligence) matching center as a control tower. This center offers consulting services through six specialized committees focused on investment and financing, business planning, operational innovation, organization consolidation, management support, and open innovation.
Unlike existing consulting, which focuses on short-term contracts centered on solutions, the KOC Consulting Cooperative plans to meet the specific needs of startups through various forms of customized services such as collaboration projects, coaching, mentoring, and education. Additionally, it helps the continuous growth of startups through follow-up support in areas such as securing investment, consolidation of talent, and global expansion even after the completion of consulting projects.
Participating consultants are composed of successful alumni entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals from KAIST. The age range encompasses both young and senior generations. This combination is expected to effectively support the growth of startups by harmonizing the innovative thinking of the younger generation with the rich experience of the senior group. Furthermore, by actively utilizing the capabilities of retired professionals, it is anticipated to contribute to the enhancement of the social value of 'leveraging experiential resources,' which has become a recent social agenda.
Kwon Jae-joong, chairman of KOC, noted, “First, we will provide consulting services to corporations affiliated with our members and KOC member firms, and in the future, we plan to expand our target to promising startups outside of KOC.” He added, “Through this, we will significantly contribute to nurturing promising corporations as unicorns and to the qualitative growth of the innovative startup ecosystem.”
KOC is actively conducting the discovery and investment in promising technology companies through KOC Partners, an accelerator funded by KOC members.